“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him” (Mark 11:23).
“Satan laughs at our toiling, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” – The Kneeling Christian
In the beginning of time, as God created the universe, Satan watched with envy. Not long before, Satan had been thrown out of heaven for trying to usurp God’s authority. He nursed his wounded ego as God made light, and the world, and the sun, moon, stars, plants, fish, and animals. Then he saw God create Adam and Eve. He jealously watched as God began to fellowship with the first man and woman.
“Do not eat the fruit of the tree at the center of the garden, or you shall die,” Satan heard God say to them as he eavesdropped.
“How can I destroy God’s creation?” Satan asked himself.
“Should I destroy God’s garden with fire?” he wondered before deciding that God would just recreate it.
“Perhaps I could kidnap His new friends?” he thought, but then he realized there was nowhere to hide from God’s gaze.
Finally, he hit upon a diabolical plan, “I will trick Adam and Eve into doubting God’s word.”
He approached Eve in the form of a serpent and began to sow seeds of doubt in her mind. He said to her, “Eat from the tree, you will not die like God said.”
Eve was talked into doubting God. She ate from the tree and then Adam did too. The original sin was doubt. When you doubt God and His promises, you sin. Doubt is the only weapon Satan has in his arsenal. If he can get you to doubt God, then he can control your life. But, if you reject doubt, Satan has no hold over you.
According to Mike Murdock, “God’s greatest pleasure is to be believed. God’s greatest pain is to be doubted.” Doubt cuts us off from God’s presence. Belief connects us with God’s blessings.
I wrote a poem:
Thoughts of doubt,
Will shut God out,
And then begin,
To let Satan in.
When you pray, you prove that you do not doubt God. Why would you pray to someone who you think is powerless to help you? Prayer proves that you believe Him and His promises. Don’t doubt, only believe.
Get your copy of Daniel King’s book: The Power of Prayer